Getting a Ranch or Land Loan

Helpful Land Loan Information

Residential properties for sale in hot markets, such as in the Austin area, can result in multiple offers, meaning a buyer should be pre-approved by a lender and ready to go when they submit their offer. Not being pre-approved could result in their offer being rejected. Farm and ranchdeals may not move as fast but the same principles still apply, you should be pre-approved and ready to go when you submit your offer. Actually a buyer should be pre-approved prior to starting a land search. By doing your homework before you apply for financing, you can put yourself in a prime position to move when the right property becomes available.

Step One – Pre-Approval

Once you’ve determined the lender you want to use, request their loan application to start the pre-approval process. In addition to the application, you’ll probably need a few years of tax returns, financial statements and pay stubs. You will never regret getting your pre-approval out of the way up front. Usually the only step left to complete your loan package after the pre-approval is complete is providing an executed contract on a property.

The Good, Bad and the Ugly

Providing as many details as possible early in the process can be vital. In cases of past delinquencies and foreclosures, be truthful. Most lenders say that lying or withholding information is one of the most detrimental things an applicant can do. Issues can often be dealt with, so keeping the loan officer informed from the very beginning can save critical time. This also applies when providing a thorough description of the land being offered as security.

Know Your Down Payment and Closing Cost

Know down payment requirements and how much you can put down. While actual down payment requirements may vary, they are typically based on credit factors analyzed by the lender. Ag loans often require 15 to 20 percent or more down, depending on the loan purpose, lending institution and your credit rating.

Be sure you factor in your closing cost when borrowing money. Your lender and title company can give you an estimate of these costs.

Learn the “Five Cs of Credit”

Lastly, know and live the “Five Cs of Credit”. Your lender will love you for it!

Character: the borrower’s honesty and integrity

Capacity: the applicant’s financial capacity to repay the loan

Capital: the applicant’s liquidity and solvency

Collateral: the physical property that will minimize the lender’s risk in the event of default

Conditions: the conditions and/or terms for granting and repaying the loan

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